Oct. 19, 2013

Readers reacted with enthusiam and also caution about the growing downtown real estate empire of Dan Gilbert, the billionaire businessman and Quicken Loans founder. His Rock Ventures, and its real estate arm, Bedrock Real Estate Services, bought two more downtown Detroit properties last week, bringing the total downtown holdings to more than 40 properties owned or controlled by his network. Comments below were taken from facebook.com/detroitfreepress.

I’d hate to play him in Monopoly. He's a pro!

Daniel Chisnell

I find it funny when people complain about one person buying vacant property when nobody but the banks on the property before him would you rather have it empty and nobody paying taxes on them?

Erik Seymour

He is up to something big: Turning around a once great city.

Rob Burg

You do all understand that the buildings Gilbert buys need a lot of work right? They're not always in pristine, ready to move in condition. Some of these buildings are standing on the outside, but ready to be condemned on the inside. So, lots more money, and JOBS, are being put into the refurbishing of these structures.

I often wonder how many of these people criticizing what's happening are familiar with the state of affairs downtown, or can compare what's going on today, with where the city was just five years ago.

More weathy people have been invited to the party, including the likes of Donald Trump. It seems that Gilbert is one of the few who believe in the opportunity enough to put down serious coin. Everyone else still has this "Shithole Detroit" attitude.

Can't wait to see what's next in win-win situations for business in DTW. Could it be the privitization of the failing schools?

Andrew Mytys

I admire anyone who does not wait for the government to hand them money to help out the city. He did this on his own and I think anyone who criticizes him is an idiot. Of course, Mike Ilitch led the way by moving downtown many years ago. Both believers in the city and what it could and should be.

Carmen Falzon Cowan

I'm cautious in jumping on a Gilbert bandwagon until we see how things go. I have so many questions Im not even going to get that specific. If it works and its real and its really good for Detroit, more power to him. That is yet to be determined.

Douglas Kahn

welcome to DANtroit

Jason Chilla Sikkila

I was down for the game yesterday and the renovations in these buildings is incredible. He's putting his money where his mouth is. Very few others are doing that.

Lenny Hutton

That is how billionaires become billionaires. They start out as millionaires. It is when there is a crash or collapse that there is the opportunity --- because THEY STILL have money. Everyone else is broke.